She Was a Phantom of Delight

"To a Highland Girl" by William Wordsworth (1804)

The Wordsworths went on a walking tour of Scotland in 1803, and Wordsworth wrote “To a Highland Girl” the following year. In it, he expresses his admiration and appreciation for a girl he observed on the walk in terms that will remind the reader of “She Was a Phantom of Delight,” written just one year later. Indeed, much later in his life, Wordsworth commented that four lines of “To a Highland Girl” served as the inspiration for “Phantom.” He did not, however, identify the lines explicitly, and scholars continue to debate the issue.

"Our Walk Was Far among the Ancient Trees" by William Wordsworth (1799)

Wordsworth wrote “Our Walk Was Far among the Ancient Trees” in 1799. He habitually renamed places he encountered on his walks after friends whose characteristics suited the landscape. In this case, he named a secluded and calm spot in the woods at Rydal after Mary and dedicated the poem to her. He clearly regarded Mary as a calming influence in his life. Later, he commented that this poem should be read before “She Was a Phantom of Delight” to illustrate an earlier phase in his relationship with his wife.